The recently retired Union City superintendent of schools -- one of the highest-paid in the state -- will receive a lump sum payout of $188,000 for unused vacation and sick days, on top of an annual pension of more than $165,000, according to school district records.

According to state records, his pension will be $167,000 annually. Sanger said he had no comment on the size of the payout.

But he said he is proud of the work he has done to level the playing field for the city's urban youth as compared to students in suburban districts. Union City is a so-called "Abbott" district, one of more than two dozen that receives millions from the state to bring spending up to par with more affluent districts.

“I think the Union City School District has been regarded as a leader in urban education,” said Sanger, who was an assistant superintendent for three years and a principal of two elementary schools during his long career.

“I was proud to say we met the intent of the New Jersey Supreme Court (Abbott) ruling ... to narrow the achievement gap,” said Sanger who oversaw the district of nearly 13,000 students. “I think we were successful in doing that.”

Union City Mayor Brian Stack, who is also a state senator, did not return a call for comment on the payout. Gov. Chris Christie, who has railed against exorbitant retirement payouts, could not be reached for comment.

The Union City School district was lauded by David L. Kirp’s book “Improbable Scholars: The Rebirth of a Great American School System and a Strategy for America's Schools,” which was published last year.

Sanger, who does some fishing, said retirement will give him "More time for my family and friends."